After two surgeries this season (the last for a broken arm), UM’s Colbert returns for bowl
He began his career as a Texas Longhorn safety and will end it as a Miami Hurricane cornerback.
University of Miami graduate transfer Adrian Colbert has had his share of challenges along the way, but has persevered, overcome them and is expected to play against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl despite undergoing two unrelated surgeries this season.
First came knee surgery in early September and then came surgery in early November to repair a broken right forearm sustained Oct. 29 against Notre Dame, a game in which Colbert excelled.
“It’s been great, phenomenal,’’ Colbert said Monday of his season in Coral Gables. “I can’t say anything bad about my experiences. I’ve had the trials with being injured twice in the season and only being able to play possibly six games. But I’ve cherished every moment I’ve been out here. Every day. It’s been a blessing with this staff and these players.”
Thanks to an exceptional attitude and intensive rehabilitation, Colbert is back, and he has the scars to show it, including a long one on that forearm.
“It was just repetition, repetition and just grinding it out and enduring the pain that I was suffering that whole time of [physical therapy],’’ Colbert said. It builds character. I got a bunch of scars and it all tells a story and it’s just a blessing from God that I could come back from so many injuries that have been critical in my life.’’
UM coach Mark Richt said after practice Monday that Colbert is “doing great.’’
“I don’t see any reason why he won’t play,’’ Richt said. “I know Adrian kept his mind in it the whole way. He kept in condition the whole way. He was working very hard from the very beginning to play in this game. He knew the timeline would allow him to, if he was ready.
“He prepared. He’s ready to go.’’
Added Richt of what Colbert has shown prospective NFL teams: “He has show that he’ll be physical. He has shown that he can run fast. He has shown that he’ll play special teams. He has shown ball skills. He has gotten their attention.
“One way or another, he’ll end up in an NFL camp. I’m certain of that.’’
Colbert was asked what the Dec. 28 bowl game means to him. This season, in six games played and three started, he had 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interceptions and three pass breakups.
“This bowl game means everything to me,’’ he said. “I lost the last two bowl games I played in...These boys deserve to get a championship bowl win. These coaches do, too. They come in and they grind us out and then they weed out all the bad seeds and they grind us and grind us and grind us until we show our toughness and we show we want to win.
We deserve it.’’
This story was originally published December 19, 2016 at 7:25 PM with the headline "After two surgeries this season (the last for a broken arm), UM’s Colbert returns for bowl."